Railway pilot coupler



March` 24, 195.3 w. H. MEYER 2,632,573

RAILWAY PILOT couPLER Filed Nov. l, 1947 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l e INVENTOR: 3f WILLIAM' H. MEYER ATTORNEY.

March 24, 1953 w. H. MEYER 2,632,573

RAILWAY-PILOT COUPLER Filed Nov. l, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 8,?` 'lNvl-:NTOR: 'WILLIAM H. MEYER FlG.,ll. BY

ATTORNEY.

March 24, 1953 w. H. MEYER 2,632,573

RAILWAY PILOT couPLER Filed NOV. 1, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WILLIAM H. MEYER BY f l ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 24, 1953 RAILWAY PILOT COUPLER William H. Meyer, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application November 1, 1947, Serial No. 783,522

6 Claims.

` The invention relates coupler structure of the type in which the coupler swings vvertically from an extended functioning tion, a screw is used to move the coupler from one position to another.

One coupler used heretofore was counterbalanced by a weight at its rear end opposite the coupler head and was pivoted near its center to the pilot. With this arrangement, a relatively deep Vrecess is required at the rear of the coupler pivot to accommodate the coupler counterbalancing weight.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the overhang of the pilot to a minimum and to eliminate the weight and cost of the heavy counterbalance previously used and to provide for retractiblecouplers on existing locomotives having relatively shallow pilots and non-retractible couplers without changing the present pilot beam and coupler. I

` Another object is to retract the coupler into a 'pilot recess by swinging it upwardly. A further object is to provide a substantially rigid pilot portion of maximum height below the coupler recess to resist the thrust` on the pilot when it strikes an object in the path of the locomotive.

vThese and other detail objects as will appear from the following description are attained by the structure` illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a locomotive pilot beam, pilot and ycoupler structure, the rear end of the pilot being broken away and the coupler structure being shown in functioning positions.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown Ain Figure l, the coupler being in nonfunctioning position and a suitable plate closing y to locomotive pilot and.

Figure 8 is a front elevation showing the embodiment of Figure 7 andshowing a portion of the coupler structure in section.

. Figures 9 and l1 are longitudinal vertical sections taken approximately on line 9-9 of Figure `7 and line I I-I I of Figure 10, respectively.

Referring to Figures 1-4, the pilot beam I is shown attached to the front end of the locomotive main frame 2 and mounts for vertical adjustment a relatively short locomotive pilot 3. The pilot front walls 4 provide an obstacle deilecting surface and converge forwardly of the locomotive and merge with each other and with the pilot end walls 5. The pilot includes a recess "I having a relatively small opening in front walls Y 4 and having a bottom wall la, side walls lb, and

a rear Wall 1c. The portions of pilot front walls 4 below recess 'I are rigid and integral.V

The coupler structure carried by the pilot includes a coupler pocket 8 Ywithin recess "I and mounted on the pilot for vertical movement about a horizontal pivot 9 and mounting a Ycoupler Il), including a head II and a shank I2, for horizontal movement about a vertical pin I3 (Figures 1 and 3) A portion of the lower face of coupler head II is slidingly mounted on a forwardly extending flange 8a. on the coupler pocket. Coupler III swings vertically withcoupler pocket 8 about the hor1zontal pivot 9 between functioning position, in which the coupler head II extends forwardly of the pilot, as shown in Figures l and 3, and retracted non-functioning position, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. A closure plate I4 formed integral with coupler pocket 8 closes the recess opening When the coupler is in retracted position. A compression spring I7 counterbal- 'ances the coupler to facilitate its movement'from The device for adjusting the spring lcompres- 1 sion comprises a threaded sleeve 2| rotatably mounting spring seat I9 and having a hexagonal portion 22 forming a stop for the spring seat. Sleeve 2| is threaded into an adjusting block 23 engaging a concave bearing 24 on extension 20 and mounted for pivotal movement relative thereto. Spring tension is adjusted by rotating lsleeve 2I in block 23 to move seat I9 towards or 3 away from arm i6. A lock nut 25 is threaded on sleeve 2l and abuts adjusting block 23.

A rod 26 aligns arm I6 and seat I9 and extends axially of spring I1 and is threaded into arm IB and is locked thereto by a nut 21. Rod 26 is slidably mounted in sleeve 2l and extends rearwardly thereof when the coupler is in functioning position. A recess 34 (Figure 2) in the lower edge of closure plate I4 receives the forward end of arm I6 when the closure plate is in non-functioning position.

The coupler structure is locked in functioning and in non-functioning positions by an elongated bar 28 extending longitudinally of the pilot and' mounted for pivotal movement about its rear end received in a depression 1d in pilot wall'a. -The forward and rearward lower faces of bar 23 rest on wall 1a of the pilot and substantially the entire uppel` face of bar 28 engages closure plate lli' when the 'coupler' is in extended operative positionv (Figure 3).*' A spring urged plunger 3i] is supported by rear wall 1c of the pilot and by a rearwardly extending bracket 29 rigid with wall 1c." Plunger 3% urges bar 28 forwardiy relative to the pilot until a depending pin 3l on bar 28 is received inY a notch 32 (Figure 6) in wa1l1a of the pilot. To release the coupler structure, bar 23 is grasped by itshandle 28a and is moved rearwardlymanually until pin 3i is free of notch 32 and bar 28 is pivoted horizontally about its rear end until pin 3l is aligned with a slot 33 on the longitudinal center line of the pilot and in wall 1d. In this position, bar 28 may be moved forwardly'and be removed fromthe pilot and the coupler structure be moved from operative to f inoperative positionf Bar 28 then is installed on the pilot by engaging plunger Se with the Vrear end of the A bar andpassing pin 3l rearwardly through slot 33. Bar 28 is'shifted horizontally toflocking position with pin 3l in notch 32. The upper forward portion of bar 28 then engages thellower end of closure plate Hi (Figure 2) and locksfthe coupler structure in inoperative position.

"In Figures '1, 8 and 9, a pilot S I,A having a recess laopening forwardly of lthep'ilot, is mounted byboltstaon a pilot beam 6 2. A coupler pocket 63H is mounted for vertical swinging movement about integral horizontal trunnions 66 pivoted in separate brackets 65 mounted onv the pilot beam by bolts 65a for vertical adjustmentindependentlyof the pilot. A coupler 65 is mounted on coup-ler pocket t3 by a vertical pin t1 for relative horizontal pivotal movement. Coupler 6B is movable vertically with coupler pocket G3 about -trunnions 64 between functioning position, shown in solid lines in Figure 9, and non-functioning position, shown in dot-dash lines in the same figure.v The axes of trunnions 64 and pin 61 preferably intersect at right angles so that the coupler head is positioned la minimum distance forwardly of the pilot beam and the pilot may be relatively shallow and of light weight and of maximum strength for its weight. A

A tension spring 63 extends laterally of pilot 6l and balances the weight of coupler 65 as it is moved from one position to the other. Spring 68 is connected at one end to a seat 69 adjustably mounted on the pilot. The opposite end of spring B8 is connected to a seat 69a. A cable 1U is threaded over a pulley 1l rotatably mounted on pilot 6I and is connected at one end to seat 69a and the other end extends through a groove 12 in coupler pocket 63 and is connected to the forward'endof 'coupler pocket lE53.'`r A closure plate 13 integral with coupler pocket 63 closes the recess opening when coupler 6B is in non-function position. A locking bar 14, similar to locking bar 28 in Figures 1-4, holds coupler 66 in both operative and inoperative positions when the locking bar extends longitudinally centrally of the pilot as shown in Figure '1. Locking bar 14 is removed from the pilot by'pivoting the bar about its rear end and to the right and passing locking bar pin 15 through slot 16 in the pilot (Figures '1 and 8).

The structure shown in Figures 10 and 11 is similar to that shown in Figures '1-9 except that tension spring 8l!`r which balances the weight of coupler 82, extends transversely below pilot beam 811 and is connected'- at one end to a seat 83 adjustably mounted on the pilot beam. The other end of spring IBI is attached to a seat having one end of a rcable 86 attached thereto and threaded over a pulley 81 rotatably supported by a bracket es rigid with pilot beard' sa; """riiefbpposite end of cable 86 islconnectedhto a coupler pocket 89. "i `Y 'I 4 Brackets 9E) are integral with the pilot and pivotally support the coupler pocket. ll3ra,cl ets"'il haveremovable caps 9i to accommodate'integral coupler pocket trunnions 9.3i" Caps 9| are inclined on brackets Siso that bun-lng forces are transmitted to the rigid portion vof the brackets and pulling forces are transmitted partly tothe rigid portion of the brackets'fand' partlyl tothe attaching studsf instead o5 entirely tothe studs as would result if the caps were vertical.'i l l The structures described yfacilitate movement of acouplerV about its'rearend'from one position to another. The structures are adapted' foruse on existing locomotives having relatively short pilots and n on-retractible couplers and `the present pilot beams andcouplersl maybe used.` Each of the pilotsj has lav minimum size opening mits obstacle defiecting walls and'fan. integralportion below the coupler recess openin'glprovi'ding'for a stronger pilot structure;

vThe'details of construction may be varied without departing substantially from the` spirit'f the invention, and the exclusiveuseof those modifications coming within the scopeof theclairnsis contemplated. f"

What is claimed is:

l. In combinatioma railway vehicle pilot provicleddwithA a recess havinga'forwardly Yopening end, a coupler device in said recess'fc'omprising a head and an elongatedllshanlgextendingthere from, said device being arranged for vertical movement aboutira horizontal pivot vbetween eX- tended functioning and retracted non-funcft'irm-V ingrpositions, a closureplate spaced from said shank and head and movablerlwit'h said coupler device` for closingv the recess opening when said couplerdevice is in non-functioning position,A `a lock to hold saidy coupler devicefi-n-said; positions and comprising an elongated bar'engageablle with said closure plate either position, 'and said bar being removable'frorn said pilot to'per- Vmit vsaid coupler device to bel moved from one position to another. Y Y

2. In combinationE a railway vehicle pilot beam member, a pilot member mounted on -saidbeam member and providedwitha recess havingfafor; wardly opening end, acoupler pocket iri said recess mounted for vertical movement aboutna horizontal pivot on said pilot-member, a coupler mounted on said coupler'pocketforhorisontal movement about a vertical pivton said ,coupler pocket and movable vertically about said 'hor'il zontal pivot with said coupler pocket, between a substantially horizontal functioning position and an elevated non-functioning position, a spring anchored at one end to said coupler pocket rearwardly of the coupler pivoted thereon and extending downwardly and rearwardly from the coupler pocket and anchored at the other end to one of said members to counterbalanee the coupler and coupler pocket and to facilitate their movement from one position to another.

3. In combination, a railway vehicle pilot provided with a recess having a forwardly opening end, coupler structure comprising a coupler pocket mounted in said recess for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal pivot, and a coupler mounted on said coupler pocket for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical pivot and arranged for swinging movement with said coupler pocket about said horizontal pivot between functioning and non-functioning positions, said coupler pocket having a closure plate rigid therewith and adapted to close the recess opening when said coupler is in non-functioning position, said pilot having a rearward extension, and a compression spring extending longitudinally of the vehicle and connected at one end to said extension and connected at the other end to said coupler structure to counterbalance the coupler and facilitate its movement from one position to another.

4. In combination, a railway vehicle frame provided with a pilot having a recess opening forwardly and upwardly of the vehicle, a horizontal pivot pin within said recess, coupler structure having a rear portion pivoted on said pin and having a forward portion pivoted on said rear portion and projecting substantially horizontally from the recess forwardly of the vehicle and swingable in a horizontal plane when in normal operating position, and a coil spring under compression and connected at its opposite ends to the frame and to the rear portion of the coupler structure rearwardly of the forward portion of the coupler structure and elongating as the coupler structure is swung upwardly and rearwardly from said normal operating position to retracted position.

5. In a railway vehicle coupler and pilot assembly. pilot elements forming a front wall and providing a recess behind the front wall opening forwardly and upwardly of the pilot, a coupler pocket member having a horizontal pivot on the pilot spaced rearwardly from the pilot front wall, said pocket opening forwardly of the pilot, a coupler having a vertical pivot on said pocket member nearer to the coupler head than said horizontal pivot and in substantial alignment transversely of the pilot with the adjacent portion of the pilot front wall when the coupler is in horizontal functioning position, a closure plate ixedly mounted on said pocket member and extending below said coupler and rearwardly therefrom, when the coupler is in horizontal functioning position, and closing the front of the pilot recess when the coupler and pocket member are swung about the horizontal pivot of the latter to non-functioning position of the coupler, the spring device connecting the rear portion of the pilot to a portion Vof the closure plate remote from the coupler and counterbalancing the coupler head to facilitate its movement from operative to inoperation position.

6. In combination, a railway vehicle pilot having a forwardly opening recess, a coupler pocket in said recess, a horizontal pivot pin extending through the pilot and pocket and mounting the pocket on the pilot, a coupler in said pocket, a vertical pivot pin mounting the rear end of the coupler in the pocket, a spring device anchored at one end to said pilot and at its other end detachably secured to said pocket, and compressed when said pocket and coupler are in normal operating position and elongating as said coupler and pocket are swung forwardly about said horizontal pivot pin, said horizontal pivot pin and coupler and pocket being removable from said pilot by the withdrawing of said horizontal pivot pin and the detachment of said spring device frorn said pocket.

WILLIAM I-I. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 522,299 Leeds July 3, 1894 595,383 Galbraith Dec. 14, 1897 933,070 Gleason Sept. 7, 1909 1,122,514 Link Dec. 29, 1914 2,075,953 Miller Apr. 6, 1937 2,138,450 Hallquist Nov. 29, 1938 2,200,219 Reid May 7, 1940 

